Essential Presentation

Florida is home to many unique ecosystems! However, they're all in trouble due to various outside influences. But we can make a difference! Learn about what's threatening each ecosystem and what we can do to help minimize damage at each level. Are you ready to begin?

Yes!

No

Hmmm...these's clouds are no joke. Click the clouds in northern Florida so we can see the first level.

Florida's Agriculture

CLick the hotspots below to discover the impact agriculture has on florida's economy and threats to agriculture in florida

FILL IN THE BLANK

You'll be given three sentences each with missing information. Please read through the sentence and then choose the correct answer to fill in that missing space.

Click Start to begin.

START

Next Level

FILL IN THE BLANKS - TOPIC

skip the straw

skip the straw

Remeber to ________________ when ordering drinks!

recycle

bring cups

appropriate receptacle

recycle bin

trash

appropriate receptacle

When fishing place your fishing tackle in the _______________ _______.

survey team

clean up

Join a coastal ___________ and river sweeps!

trash pass

clean up

Next Level

FILL IN THE BLANKS - TOPIC

skip the straw

skip the straw

Remeber to ________________ when ordering drinks!

recycle

bring cups

appropriate receptacle

recycle bin

trash

appropriate receptacle

When fishing place your fishing tackle in the _______________ _______.

survey team

clean up

Join a coastal ___________ and river sweeps!

trash pass

clean up

Congratulations!

You filled in all the blanks!

Start over

next Level

Great job! Let's move on to Florida's forests now. Click the clouds in the middle of Florida to reveal the next level.

Florida's Forests

JENGA

Help to stop deforestation by toppling construction. You'll be playing as both your opponent and yourself. Make sure to answer the questions correctly to collect your piece!

START

question 1/5

OPPONENT’STURN

YOURTURN

Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, with no need to download?

Wrong answer

Right answer ✓

Wrong answer

Once piece down! But there's still more to go.

YOURTURN

next

question 2/5

OPPONENT’STURN

YOURTURN

90% of the information we assimilate is received through sight and, what’s more, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.

True

False ✓

YOURTURN

Well done! Keep on going!

next

1uestion 3/5

YOURTURN

Did you know that images are an aesthetic resource that tell stories all by themselves and, what’s more, they keep the brain awake?

Wrong answer

Right answer ✓

More then half way there!

YOURTURN

next

question 4/5

OPPONENT’STURN

YOURTURN

Did you know that multimedia content is essential for achieving that Wow effect in your creations?

Wrong answer

Wrong answer

Right answer ✓

One more piece should have this jenga falling!

YOURTURN

next

question 5/5

OPPONENT’STURN

YOURTURN

Did you know that images are an aesthetic resource that tell stories all by themselves?

Wrong answer

Right answer ✓

Wrong answer

YOURTURN

You saved the forest!

next

Congratulations!

You toppled the development

Start over

Next Level

Fantasitic! Florida is home to so many enriching ecosystems. However, there's one in particular that Florida is espically known for. Click the clouds to learn more!

The Everglades, a unique and vital ecosystem in Florida, faces several significant threats due to human activities. Click on the button below to learn more and how you can save the Everglades!

FIND THE PAIRS

Match the description with the correlating images.

START

I AM READY

Memorize the pictures and facts. Then click "I am ready" to begin.

This preditor “herds” prey and then often corral them into a corner

Can be found throughout the Florida peninsula, inviading suburban neighborhoodsand also natural areas

This plant, forms a dense canopy that shades out native plants in developed areas and natural areas

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Was first introduced to Florida in 1905 as a medicinal plant

They can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality

Match the species to the fact.

Match the species to the fact.

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Match the species to the fact.

They can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Match the species to the fact.

This preditor “herds” prey and then often corral them into a corner

They can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Match the species to the fact.

This preditor “herds” prey and then often corral them into a corner

This plant, forms a dense canopy that shades out native plants in developed areas and natural areas

They can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Match the species to the fact.

Can be found throughout the Florida peninsula, inviading suburban neighborhoodsand also natural areas

This preditor “herds” prey and then often corral them into a corner

This plant, forms a dense canopy that shades out native plants in developed areas and natural areas

They can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality

Their presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations

Congratulations!

You have found all the pairs!

Start over

Next Level

Only one more ecosystem left! Click on the cloud in the southernmost point of Florida to learn about the largest ecosystem here in the Sunshine State.

click the trash away by the turtle to learn more about how harmful plastic and other trash can be for the ocean.

Many people love to come to the beach for vacation! However, with increase tourism comes increase problems. Click on the chair and book to learn more.

While there's tourism can show off the beauty Florida has to offer, there's also a not-so-beautiful side. Click on the person below to learn the negative impacts of tourism.

FILL IN THE BLANK

You'll be given three sentences each with missing information. Please read through the sentence and then choose the correct answer to fill in that missing space.

Click Start to begin.

START

Next Level

FILL IN THE BLANKS - Ocean Plastics Pollution

12-20 million

15–51 trillion

Studies estimate there are now ____________ pieces of plastic in the world's oceans.

15–51 trillion

8-18 billion

Pacific Waste Dump

Pacific Trash Island

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The ___________________________ is a gyre of plastic debris in the north-central Pacific Ocean.

The Center for Biological Diversity is asking the government to regulate plastics as a pollutant under the __________________.

Keep Our Ocean Clean Act

Clean Water Clean Ocean Act

Clean Water Act

Clean Water Act

Next Level

FILL IN THE BLANKS - Protecting Our Ocean From plastics

40%

40%

_____ of all plastic produced are single-use and most are not recycled.

90%

60%

deadly chemicals and metals

harmful microplastics

harsh chemicals

deadly chemicals and metals

Plastics attract ____________________________ from the water around them like a sponge, and when consumed, it leaches into the animal’s body.

plastic trash

fishing gear

Ghost fishing refers to the long life _____________ can have beyond its intended use

boating debris

fishing gear

Next Level

FILL IN THE BLANKS - How can we help?

skip the straw

skip the straw

Remeber to ________________ when ordering drinks!

recycle

bring cups

appropriate receptacle

recycle bin

trash

appropriate receptacle

When fishing place your fishing tackle in the _______________ _______.

survey team

clean up

Join a coastal ___________ and river sweeps!

trash pass

clean up

Congratulations!

You filled in all the blanks!

Start over

What's next?

Congratulations! You successfully learned about all four ecosystems in Florida and the impacts humans are having on them. please return to Canvas to complete the next major assignment.

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

Florida Citrus

In 2021, Florida harvested more than 370,000 acres of citrus fruit. What happens to these citrus fruits?

• 9.18 million cartons of packed citrus
• 658 million gallons of citrus juice
• 678,000 tons of citrus byproducts

93 percent of all citrus harvested in Florida goes in to juice processing only. The reminaing 7 percent is sold as fresh fruit. Florida citrus growers support $1.72 billion in sales revenue.

Awesome!

Let's get started...

Ecosystems: The Interconnected Web of Life

Understanding deforestation requires a grasp of ecosystems. Imagine a complex web where animals, plants, water, and even tiny organisms all play crucial roles in sustaining life. Remove one element, and the entire system suffers. Florida, a global hotspot of biodiversity, thrives on healthy ecosystems that support diverse species. But replace its vibrant forests and waterways with concrete jungles, and this paradise crumbles.

Correct!

The Old World Climbin Fern forms a dense canopy that shades out native plants in developed areas and natural areas.

Click the arrow button to match the next set!

Correct!

The python's presence has led to severe declines in Everglades mammal populations.

Click the arrow button to match the next set!

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

Florida boasts a stunning array of wildlife, but this paradise faces a grim reality. With 70 species listed as endangered and countless more threatened, the state ranks second only to California in terms of biodiversity woes. What's driving this crisis? Habitat fragmentation. This loss of habitat is caused when humans remove forests for development or build roads to connect cities and towns. Animals become confined to small tracts of land which can lead to inbreeding. There is also an increased risk of animal casualty when crossing roadways is necessary.

• Florida is home to many threatened or endangered species including the Florida Panther, Eastern Indigo Snake, Key Deer, Gopher Tortise, and the Florida Scrub Jay

Ocean Pollution

Water pollution from plastics poses a critical threat to ocean environments, with billions of pounds of plastic waste causing widespread harm. This pollution significantly impacts marine life through ingestion and entanglement, killing thousands of seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals annually. Plastics, constituting 90% of ocean debris, persist for centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics and absorbing toxic chemicals, further endangering wildlife and human health through the seafood chain. Addressing this crisis requires reducing plastic use, regulating plastics as pollutants, improving waste management, and engaging in cleanup efforts to protect marine ecosystems. Comprehensive action is essential to mitigate the severe environmental impacts of ocean plastics.

Please read the following two articles below to learn more about ocean pollution. When you're done, click the X to learn about tourism.

View on external site - Ocean Plastics Pollution

View on external site - Protecting Our Ocean From Plastics

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Threats to Florida's Agriculture

The continued development of Florida's land is contributing to a staggering loss of agriculture. Researchers project a loss of roughly 45,000 acres annually in the coming decades. This progress also contributes to issues like flooding, threatening Florida's farms, ranches, forests, and wetlands. Another major threat to Florida's agriculture industry is invasive pests including beetle, fly, ant, grasshopper, and true bug pests.

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

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Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

Correct!

The Brazillian Pepper Was first introduced to Florida in 1905 as a medicinal plant.

Click the arrow to move on!

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Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

Click the X button to try again.

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Florida's Unique Geography

Florida’s history includes the mentality of “draining the swamp”, which was a term associated with destroying wetlands to increase the areas in Florida available for construction. This mindset along with the “Florida is a blank canvas” ethos collectively normalized the destruction of the natural Florida landscape for the benefit of the real estate / tourism market. Little did these developers understand just how important the hydrology systems of wetlands are to our water system. Construction is systematically disturbing the balance of Florida’s expansive statewide ecosystem and contributing to such a major source of pollution.

Not ready?

When you are, click the X so we can start helping Florida!

Florida Fruits and Tree Nuts

Floirda is among the nations leading producers of citrus fruits, grapes, berries, tropical fruits, and pecans.

• 3rd overall in the United States for fruit and nut crop sales
• 1st overall in Oranges
• 2nd overall in Strawberries, Avocados, and Tangerines
• 3rd overall in Grapefruit

Florida's Forests

Deforestation: A Threat to Florida's Paradise

While climate change grabs headlines, deforestation quietly steals the show. National Geographic defines deforestation as the permanent removal of trees to make way for development or resource extraction. We see it daily in new construction sites, but rarely connect the dots between those cleared lots and the environmental consequences.

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

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Native vs. Invasive Species of the Everglades

There are a variety of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, fish, and plants that call the Everglades their home. Some of the most popular creatures in this wetland ecosystem include the iconic American alligator, the Florida panther, and the roseate spoonbill. As vast and unique as the Everglades may be, they are currently being harmed by invasive species. Since the southern region of Florida is known for its major ports of entry, it is easy for people to smuggle in species that can cause significant damage to the ecosystem. Over the years, the Everglades have become a dumping ground for the Argentine black and white tegu, the Nile monitor, and the Burmese python. These creatures, along with nonnative plants, can carry diseases and parasites that can damage or kill off the species that are native to this wetland. It is key to be able to identify invasive species and contact local park rangers and conservation specialists to help protect the Everglades from further harm.

Please review the Dirty Dozen link below to learn about more invasive species. When you're done, click the arrow to move on to the game.

View on external site - Dirty Dozen

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Correct!

Click on the arrow to go to the next question.

Correct!

The Lionfish “herds” prey and then often corral them into a corner.

Click the arrow button to match the next set!

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Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

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Click the arrow to learn more.

Florida Agriculture Overview

Growers and fishers in Florida produce an estimated 200-300 different commodities. There is some form of agriculture present in every Florida county. This production accounts for:

• $270+ billion in sales revenue
• more than 2,000,000 jobs
• 47,500 farm operations covering 9.7 million acres of land

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Increased Tourism

Tourism significantly impacts the ocean environment, particularly in Florida, where the booming industry strains marine ecosystems. Increased tourist activities lead to habitat destruction, pollution, and the disruption of marine life. Coastal development for tourism infrastructure, such as hotels and recreational facilities, often results in the loss of critical habitats like mangroves and coral reefs. Additionally, the influx of visitors contributes to ocean pollution through litter, sewage, and boat traffic, which can harm marine species and degrade water quality. To mitigate these effects, the article emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism practices that balance economic benefits with the preservation of Florida's marine environments.

Watch the video to learn more. This will be helpful for your next Canvas assignemnt.

When you're done, click the arrow to test your knowledge.

Correct!

Click on the arrow to go to the next question.

Correct!

The Bullseye Snakehead can breathe air (but cannot crawl on land), which may allow them to occupy habitats with poor water quality.

Click the arrow button to match the next set!

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Click the arrow to move on to the next ecosystem

Correct!

Click on the arrow to go to the next question.

Not quite...

Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

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Correct!

Click on the arrow to go to the next question.

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Review the Everglades Dirty Dozen and try again.

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Correct!

The Cuban Tree Frog can be found throughout the Florida peninsula, inviading suburban neighborhoodsand also natural areas.

Click the arrow button to match the next set!